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As Trump slashes public media, Burgess would offer local help

Daniel DeMay, SeattlePI| on March 17, 2017

President Donald Trump's budget proposal sets up a big battle over where America should spends its dollars and signals President Trump's desire for a significant shift in priorities. Shortly after its release on Thursday, Democrats and even some Repu

Media: KTVU

With President Donald Trump’s proposal to slash funding for public media, among other things, in his budget, an idea from a Seattle City Councilmember could gain some traction.

Councilmember Tim Burgess tossed out the idea in February that the city ought to create a center for public media on the Seattle Center campus.

The campus is already home to KCTS 9, KEXP and Crosscut, but Burgess said the city should create a designated space that charges cheap rent for those and other nonprofit media outlets.

“We really do need an independent and objective media. It’s one of the bedrocks of our liberty,” Burgess said. “And I just think that there’s a role for city government to play here.”

Photo: JORDAN STEAD, SEATTLEPI.COM

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City Councilmember Tim Burgess' idea for a Seattle center for public media could gain traction as President Donald Trump proposes slashing funding for public media.

City Councilmember Tim Burgess' idea for a Seattle center for public media could gain traction as President Donald Trump proposes slashing funding for public media.

Photo: JORDAN STEAD, SEATTLEPI.COM

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The packed crowd sings along to "Give Peace a Chance" during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. less

The packed crowd sings along to "Give Peace a Chance" during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. ... more

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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The crowd listens to local music during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

The crowd listens to local music during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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The Wimps perform during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

The Wimps perform during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Sean Nelson sings "Give Peace a Chance" with the entire crowd singing along during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. less

Sean Nelson sings "Give Peace a Chance" with the entire crowd singing along during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald ... more

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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An "ON AIR" indicator is covered in flowers during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

An "ON AIR" indicator is covered in flowers during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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The crowd listens to local music during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

The crowd listens to local music during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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A security guard wears a flower behind his ear during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. less

A security guard wears a flower behind his ear during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, ... more

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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DoNormaal performs to a packed crowd during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

DoNormaal performs to a packed crowd during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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The crowd listens to local music during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

The crowd listens to local music during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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The crowd listens to the Wimps perform during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

The crowd listens to the Wimps perform during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Toko Nakayama performs peace-themed songs during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

Toko Nakayama performs peace-themed songs during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Security stands guard during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

Security stands guard during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

Image 14 of 17

The packed crowd sings along to "Give Peace a Chance" during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. less

The packed crowd sings along to "Give Peace a Chance" during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. ... more

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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The packed crowd sings along to "Give Peace a Chance" during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. less

The packed crowd sings along to "Give Peace a Chance" during KEXP's bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. ... more

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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People fill the KEXP building during a bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

People fill the KEXP building during a bed in for peace, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 bed in, on the day of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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As Trump slashes public media, Burgess would offer local help

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Trump’s budget proposal would gut funding for public media.

His proposal would cut the entire $445 million budget of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) as well as the roughly $300 million combined budget of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. All of that is still a fraction of the roughly $4 trillion federal budget.

Trump would put the savings from public media toward his proposed $54 billion increase in defense spending. And don’t forget another $2 billion earmarked to begin construction of his border wall.

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Burgess doesn’t have a comprehensive plan yet for his public media center, but he said he envisions the city at least subsidizing the cost of space and potentially looking for public-private partnerships to draw funding for the project. He would hope to just divert some existing city funds toward it, rather than increasing the budget, he said.

This isn’t the first time a president or Congress has tried to quash funding for public media, but Burgess said he’s concerned there’s a real chance Trump’s budget could succeed.

“I think Mr. Trump’s budget is just another wake up call that if we don’t act, we could realize that many of the public media sources we’ve relied on are diminished or go away,” he said.

He thinks he’ll find broad support in his constituents, and said some other city councilmembers have already expressed their support.

Burgess plans to move forward a full proposal this fall as the city heads into its budget process.